Although Internet governance deals with the core of the digital world, governance cannot be handled with the digital-binary logic of the true or false, or good or bad. Instead, the subject demands many subtleties and shades of meaning and perception, requiring an analogue approach, covering a continuum of options and compromises. The aim of the book An Introduction to Internet Governance, by Dr Jovan Kurbalija, is to provide a comprehensive overview of the main issues and actors in the field through a practical framework for analysis, discussion, and resolution of significant issues. Written in a clear and accessible way, supplemented with figures and illustrations, it focuses on the technical, security, legal, economic, development, sociocultural, and human rights aspects of Internet governance.

The text and approaches presented in the book have been used by DiploFoundation and many universities as a basis from training courses and capacity development programmes on Internet governance.

Translations

The sixth edition of An Introduction to Internet Governance has been translated to French and Thai. The fourth edition is available in Serbian/BCS, French, Armenian and Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia). Translated versions of an earlier version of the book, titled Internet governance: Issues, Actors and Divides, are available in French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, and Portuguese.

If you are interested in translating the book, get in touch with Diplo's publications manager Mina Mudric.

An Introduction to Internet Governance provides an excellent entry point. It has introduced many diplomats and officials to this emerging field of global policy. For others, it will stimulate reflections from linguistic, legal, and other perspectives. This book clearly shows that although the Internet is a ‘technical’ invention, its governance is far from simply a technical issue. Kurbalija’s book highlights the legal, social, linguistic, and economic perspectives of Internet governance. It is an impressive introduction to this emerging field of global policy.

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